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When more than 30 engineers from across VFX came together in Portimão, Portugal, for our annual Tech-A-Ton, we were making a statement about the kind of technology organisation we're building and the culture that drives us forward.
Over two days in November, our teams came together to celebrate engineering excellence. The Tech-A-Ton wasn't conceived in a conference room by external organisers. It was designed, developed, and delivered entirely by our own people, for our own people.
As Henry Lisney, VFX Financial's CEO, reflected on the event: "The Tech-A-Ton exemplified what makes VFX special. Watching our teams share knowledge, challenge each other, and collaborate across domains reinforced why investing in our engineering culture is fundamental to our success. Innovation and expertise are the foundation upon which we're building the future of VFX."
Engineering by Engineers, for Engineers
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Teams from Security, Platform, Trading, Mobile, Data, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Treasury, and Product shared the challenges they're solving, the solutions they're building, and the lessons they've learned along the way.
This wasn't a showcase of polished success stories. It was something far more valuable: honest, technical discussions about real engineering work. The kind of conversations that happen when engineers trust each other enough to talk about what didn't work the first time and what they're still figuring out.
The level of engagement throughout both days was striking. When someone presented a solution, the room wanted to understand not just what was built, but why it was built that way, what trade-offs were considered, and how it might apply to their own domain.
Carlos Candeias, VFX Financial's CTO, captured the spirit of the event:
"What impressed me most wasn't just the technical quality of the presentations, but the genuine curiosity and willingness to learn from each other. The Tech-A-Ton demonstrated that we've built a team that doesn't just write code. They think deeply about problems, share their insights openly, and continuously push each other to be better. That's the engineering culture that will carry us forward."
Breaking Down Silos, Building Up Knowledge
In fast-growing technology organisations, departments can become isolated, solving problems without realising colleagues faced something similar months ago.
The event demolished those barriers. When the Security team shared their approach, Platform engineers leaned in. When Mobile discussed deployment strategies, the Site Reliability Engineering team took notes.
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We saw engineers teaching engineers, not because it was on their job description, but because they genuinely wanted to share what they'd learned and help their colleagues grow.
Culture as Competitive Advantage
At VFX we prioritise impact over theatre, substance over style, and long-term excellence over short-term convenience.
Our teams are scaling rapidly, we're modernising our technology stack, expanding our global footprint, and continuously raising the bar for excellence. Events like the Tech-A-Ton are central to that mission.
It's a culture built on mutual respect, intellectual curiosity, and a shared commitment to building systems that matter.
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Looking Forward
As the two days in Portimão drew to a close, the conversations didn't stop. Engineers continued discussing ideas over dinner, sketching solutions, and making plans to collaborate across team boundaries.
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The Tech-A-Ton wasn't just a moment to celebrate how far we've come. It was a clear signal of where we're going.
For the engineers who attended, it was a reminder of why they chose VFX. And for anyone considering joining our team, it's a window into what working here actually looks like.
We're building something special at VFX Financial.
If you're an engineer or technology leader who thrives in environments that value ownership, transparency, and continuous growth, we'd love to hear from you. VFX is hiring across multiple engineering domains throughout 2025. Visit our careers page to explore opportunities or reach out directly to learn more about joining a team that takes engineering seriously.
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